Jumat 23 Nov 2018 17:05 WIB

Homosexuality becomes major cause of HIV/AIDS case in Bekasi

HIV spreads fast among men who have sex with men.

Rep: Dedy Darmawan Nasution, Puti Almas/ Red: Reiny Dwinanda
An HIV-infected patient displays medicine at a hospital. (file photo)
Foto: Reuters/Sukree Sukplang
An HIV-infected patient displays medicine at a hospital. (file photo)

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CIKARANG -- Homosexuality had become leading cause of HIV/AIDS in Bekasi Regency. The virus spreaded fast among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Based on data from the Bekasi Regency Health Office obtained by Republika.co.id, the total number of people with HIV/AIDS from January to October 2018 reached 1,505. It means Bekasi got additional 141 people infected by the human immunodeficiency virus compared to the same period last year.

Head of the Division of Disease Control and Prevention (P2P) of Bekasi Regency Health Office, Irfan Maulana, said that the increase of 141 people are mostly MSM. Meanwhile, of the 1,505 people with HIV/AIDS, 506 people are MSM.

According to Irfan at least a thousand gay communities existed in Bekasi Regency. To control the spread of HIV, local government tried to cut the chain of infection.